A PROVEN METHOD TO AVOID JET LAG FOR YOUR BEST TRAVELS

Jet lag? Never experienced it. I have traveled to different time zones many times, but I really don’t know what jet lag feels like. You may be thinking . . . so, why am I writing about something I have never experienced and what does this topic have to do with living the healthy life? I have a few reasons why, actually:

I have been with those who have had jet lag and I can see it is not the healthiest way to start your trip!

I hope I can help those that suffer from it to avoid it completely with my proven method as it works!

And, here’s a thought — could it be that I have NOT experienced jet lag because I follow a certain routine before I go and when I get there? Are the healthy actions I take, the items I pack, my saving grace? (I admit, I may also have never experienced jet lag because I am always tremendously excited to be where I am going, and my lack of symptoms could be merely an adrenalin rush. But, I am going to stick with my first reasoning – the process and preparations I take before, during and after I get to where I am going.)

Ok. So, enough pontification on me and my lack of jet lag. Come see what I do that may help you avoid jet lag in the first place and start your trip off right – the healthy way!

SYMPTOMS OF JET LAG

Before I get into the steps to take to avoid jet lag, you may want to scan through the symptoms below to see if they are familiar. Flying east is more challenging than flying west, generally speaking, but if you experience these symptoms once you arrive to your destination, it just may be jet lag – not the flu or some other virus:

sleepiness during the day

insomnia at night

brain fog

weak appetite

ravenous in between meals

general sluggishness

irritability

There are plenty of actions you can take to avoid that list above and make your adaptation to your new time zone a whole lot easier and a lot more fun! Scan on below where I have broken down easy things to do a few days before your trip, during the flight and how to get settled in after you arrive to begin your adventure off to the right start with energy, vitality and ready to experience new things!

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR TRIP TO AVOID JET LAG

Here are some easy strategies to consider before you leave for your trip. If you are interested, I link to a few products I think can help make your trip much smoother, more enjoyable and that I use myself. I only link to items I find to be of excellent value:

1. Start extra hydration a day or two before you leave.

Air travel is incredibly dehydrating and dehydration always makes you feel more sluggish. Your body will appreciate the extra water levels before the cabin door is closed.

Move them slightly to get closer to the time zone of where you are traveling. Even a small shift can make it easier to adjust.

3. Plan your flight to arrive in the daylight.

This may work for you because you will psychologically align with the hustle and bustle of where you have arrived and find it easier to get with the flow.

4. Conversely, arrive late at night.

This has worked for me really well as I just went straight to sleep when I arrived. I woke up the next day ready to go fully adjusted to the new time.

5. Catch your zzz’s before you leave.

You may think staying up all night will make you so tired you will fall asleep easily on the plane but you never know who you may be sitting next to, in front of or behind and the disruptions may be great. Best to be fully rested before you embark on your journey.

Don’t miss this: Free playlistscan be created easily and here is where to go.

7. Purchase a travel “white noise” maker.

I love this tool! The white noise maker I use masks hotel disturbances and creates an even hum that helps quiet my thoughts and block noisy hotel hallways. It is a really great tool for babies and kids, too!

It is a naturally secreted hormone in humans that affects the body’s circadian rhythms. There is some evidence that when administered during the day, melatonin increases the tendency to sleep better at night. Click here for more information, but absolutely consult your doctor first before leaving town and taking it with you.

8 EASY ACTIONS TO TAKE ON THE PLANE TO AVOID JET LAG

Once you board the plane, try these tips for a better arrival:

1. Keep drinking.

Water that is. Yes, try a big glass every 60-90 minutes that you are awake.

2. Skip the booze.

It will only mess up your sleep patterns and make you even more dehydrated causing a headache when you land.

Find the time where you are going and begin setting your mind and body to that time.

5. Leave the sleeping pills alone.

They’re not worth it. They will do nothing to assist the jet lag and will just leave you feeling groggy when you land.

6. Keep germs at bay.

I wipe down the tray with these wonderful smellingnatural antiseptic cleaning wipes and use a pillowcase I throw in my carry-on to cover the pillow they provide to avoid germs from a fellow user. I also pack warm socks and a small blanket or shawl that I bring with me for extra warmth and skip the one the airline provides.

7. Prep for sweet dreams.If flying at night, prepare for the end of the day. Get in line for the bathroom and remove contact lenses and make-up with facial clothes you packed as well as brush your teeth and apply lots of moisturizer and natural lip balm without the chemicals near your mouth and whatever else you normally do to prep for sleep time. Bid your seat mates a good night and tune out the world with your eye covering, ear buds with soothing songs and try your best to slumber off.

WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION TO AVOID JET LAG

When you arrive, your jet lag plan is still in full throttle as much of your success avoiding jet lag has to do with how well you sleep once you get there! Follow these tips with that aspect of your arrival in mind.

1. Keep drinking!

More water. Dehydration can set in later and just make you feel awful. Just keep up the healthy habit. Put a big glass by your bed at the hotel or wherever you are staying so you don’t have to go stumbling around in an unfamiliar place in the dark in case you wake up thirsty!

2. Make friends with the front desk.

Ask the hotel for voice mail services if available so that calls will not awake you. And while you are at it, ask for a wake-up call in case you miss your phone alarm, etc. You will not lie awake worrying about it because you have a back-up.

3. Before unpacking, check the room for potential sleep disturbances.

This could include having a room near the elevator or ice room, drapes that do not close properly, previous smoker, etc. Asking to switch rooms before you unpack may be a good idea.

4. Take a walk in the sun.

If it is daylight when you arrive, take a short stroll to see what is around your hotel, get your blood circulating after all that sitting and besides, daylight is a powerful stimulant for regulating the biological clock.

The easy slightly less healthy way to avoid jet lag. When travelling east, US to Europe, after the meal is served on the plane take a mild over the counter sleeping pill. I use Unisom. After arriving stay awake until your normal bedtime, then take another sleeping pill and sleep all night. The following day, feel refreshed.

Glad you learned something new here! I do hope these tips help you as I think it is the combination of a lot of things that before, during and after that do the trick to eliminate jet lag! Best of luck next time you hit the skies! Thanks for adding in.

Interesting topic. As someone who flies back and forth to Panama quite a bit, I like the idea of some of these tips to help ease my transition. It's true; you want to make the most of your vacation / new terrain and not be sleepy or irritated!

It had been ages since I last experienced jetlag, but this year I felt on my way to Brazil and back.It surely had to do with hormones too, but it's quite a pain.Thanks a lot for the tips. I'll save them for next time.

Yay… I see it posted, I was able to read it the other night but could not comment… I haven't traveled far yet… especially now that I am older but I never used to have jet lag… With how little I sleep these days I would probably have it now… I like the idea of coming in late and going right to sleep though, I will remember that one xox

Ouch, Shelley! That Girl Scout sleep-over sounds rough! I don't cope well with snorers! But sometimes we just have to. Here is the brand of white noise maker I received from Santa this year 🙂 and love but there are lots out there;

Love this! Jet lag is for sure no fun! This is such a good list of totally sensible, easy-to-implement strategies! My fave though – the white noise machine! I have experienced way too many hotels under construction, thin-ceilinged beach condos with noisy footfalls on the floor above, and even snoring troop leaders at Girl Scout sleep-overs (I am so not kidding on this one!). A white noise machine (or phone app) is a must! 😀